Glen Thieschafer

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11a.m. Friday, June 5th at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose for Glen Thieschafer.

Glen, a man of faith, strength and wisdom, died peacefully on Monday, June 1, 2009 at his home surrounded by his family after a valiant 16 month battle with cancer. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose.

Glen Michael Thieschafer was born January 1, 1957 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Robert and Erma (Johnson) Thieschafer. He was united in marriage to (Mary) Beth Braun on December 17, 1977 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Glen graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1975. He spent his career as a contractor and started Thieschafer Construction in 1979. He also began coaching gymnastics at Melrose High School in 1983 and continued to coach for 27 years. He touched the lives of many friends and students. He was inducted into the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. He loved spending time with family and friends, golfing, and at his cabin on Big Birch Lake.

Glen is survived by his wife, Beth Thieschafer of Melrose; son, Josh (Alicia) Thieschafer of Avon; daughter, Amanda (Greg) Smock of Minneapolis; grandson, Benjamin; father, Robert Thieschafer and step-mother, Genevieve of Sauk Centre; sisters and brothers, Donna (Ken) Mertes of Cohasset, Gail (Jim) Joerger of Garfield, Jane (Steve) Stassen of Kerkhoven, Jim (Brenda) Thieschafer of Waite Park, Marion (Tim) Ruegemer, Dave (Nancy) Thieschafer, and John (Janet) Thieschafer all of Sauk Centre.

Glen was preceded in death by his mother, Erma Thieschafer in 1986; and niece, Chrissy Thieschafer in 1980.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and an active member of the Meadowlark Country Club serving on the Board of Directors for many years. Glen was also a member of the Melrose Lions Club and the Minnesota Gymnastics Coaches Association serving on its Board for 20 years. He was inducted into the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000.

Cross, scripture, candle, and rose bearers will be Ron, Karen and Carrie Heinen and Kim (Heinen) Fuechtmann. Casket bearers will be Dave Rahn, Larry Thostenson, Terry Braegelmann, Rick Klaphake, Paul Olberding, and Bill Kemper. Honorary bearers will be past and present members of the Melrose High School Gymnastics Team.